Improvement in car-couplings



UNrrnD STATES PATENT Grrron.

JAMES A. GALE, OF WEST MEDWAY, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN CAR-COUPLINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 140,131, dated June 24, 1873; application filed October 16, 1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES A. GALE, of West Medway, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in (Jar-Shackles, of which the following is a specification:

My invention relates particularly to a shackle which is self-acting both in shackling and unshacklin g, but more particularly in the form er. In connecting cars by means of the below-described shackle the assistance of a brakeman or other person is not required, the shackle being entirely self acting. The danger attaching to the method now in common use of shackling railroad cars and making up trains is thus wholly obviated.

The nature of the invention is fully described below.

I11 the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan of the upper side of two car-platforms and of their respective shackling devices embodyin g my invention, and by means of which the said platforms are connected. A portion of each of the platforms is represented as broken out, in order to show more plainly the shackle .beneath it. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same cut in the direction and posit-ion of the line x m. Fig. 3 is a plan of the under side. Fig. 4 is an end view of one of the platforms with its shackling device, the hook being represented in section.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspondin g parts.

a to represent the two platforms. b b are those parts which ordinarily hold the link used in shackling, and commonly known as bunters." c c are peculiarly-shaped and very strong iron plates, which, when placed together, form a continuous link, (see Figs. 1 and 3.) These half-links c c are movable sidewise, and are hinged to the hunters b b at the points z 2. d d are openings or apertures in and through the plates 0 c at the proper places, into which the hooks drop and catch. 0 e are strong hooks, which are guided and drop into the apertures 01 d, thus shackling the cars. These books 6 e are hinged to iron pieces ff, which are pivoted to the plates or half-links c c. The hooks therefore can be thrown up so as to drop into the apertures d d, or even up out of the way, if desired; or they can move sidewisc to be guided properly to their destinations as the cars approach. 9 g are trough-shaped channels or ways forming one end of each plate 0 c, and so constructed and shaped for the purpose of guiding the hooks e e to their apertures d d. The opposite ends of the plates or half-links c c are made slightly concave upon the upper side in order to keep the hooks e e in place. (See 71, Fig. 4.)

In practical operation, as the cars approach, the hooks e e, kept in proper position by the shape of the ends it of the plates 0 0, upon which they rest, are guided by the channels 9 g into the apertures 01 d, and, having dropped into which, they securely shackle the cars. No curve is too sharp to prevent their being guided to their destination. Unshackling while the train is running is impossible, unless it is intentionally performed, as both the hooks hold, and as both plates 0 c and hooks e e are so arranged, as above described, as to turn in any direction. There can be hinges made in the hooks c e at any points, if desired, in order to turn them up or double them back out of the'w'ay.

There can be various methods devised for unshackling, two of which are shown in the drawings.

Chains l l can be directly attached to the hooks e 6, extending to the platforms of pas senger-oa-rs or to the tops of freight-cars.

Another, and possibly a better, method is shown in the bent rod 70 k k. The part is is perpendicular, and extends from below the hook to about the level of the brake-handle. The parts Ia k are horizontal.

To unshackle, grasp the part 70 and turn it until the part k" extends under the hook; then raise it, and it will knock the hook up and out of the aperture.

Of course the great advantage in view which this shackle has over the common link is its lessening the danger of accidents; at the same time it is less expensive; and can, if necessary, be attached to acommon car having the oldfashioned shackle.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The plate or half-link 0 having the aperture 01, channel g, concave upper side h, and hook 0, arranged to operate as described.

J AMES A. GALE.

7 Witnesses:

CHAS. H. LEARNED, A. M. B. FULLER. 

